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He didn’t answer Maybe he couldn’t, simply because there was no real answer

"If you do not hand us the keys," Yeska said, voice flat, yet somehow filled with venom, "then all those you care about will not only lose their lives in this time, but in all their future times They will be forever locked in this world, never to know life or love again"

His words chilled me to the core Yet fury rose, and it was all I could do not to throw A Hell, I could understand the the lives of my friends – even if I didn’t like it – but stripping thehosts? That was totally unacceptable

And it had to stop Somehow, somewhere, I had to find a way to end all this and make my friends – and the world – safe

"Fine," I muttered "Just let me knohere the sorcerer’s entrance onto the fields is, and we’ll take it froet it already," I said, voice tight "Now just get us out of here so we can get on with the business of tracking the key"

"The reaper can get you out," he replied "Once we retreat, the shield will go down"

"What, don’t you trust us?"

But there was no reply The dark energy that was the Raziq had gone I sheathed Amaya and let out a slow breath "Well, that certainly went better than I expected"

"Yes" Azriel pulled me into his embrace and wrapped his arms around me "I fear, however, you have only delayed the inevitable"

"I know" I closedso safe it had tears stinging my eyes But it was an illusion None of us were safe Not even a Mijai warrior with centuries of fighting behind hi that by the ti the theh more than likely impossible He didn’t add that last bit, but the words hovered between us nevertheless Shall we go get Ilianna, and see if she can create a doorway through those stones in the warehouse?

Yes There wasn’t ht now

A second later ere standing outside the Brindle It was a white four-story building that had been built in the Victorian era – a grand old lady froone time that was a whole lot e, and was protected by a veil of power so strong that there were very few in this world – or the next – ould dare test its boundaries Though I’d never considered ic, I’d always been aware of its presence here But the sensation I got from the place noeirdly different It wasn’t just awareness – it felt like the poas alive Energy crawled acrossThe Brindle didn’t suffer evil to enter, but it had never reacted to me like this before Azriel’s presence in " Azriel pressed his fingers againstbefore you pulled me back from death"

"Possibly because I was linked to your chi"

It was more than that, and we both knew it He’d been linked to y, as Ilianna called it – fro of this un reacting to me

But I let the matter drop – at least for now – and took the steps two at a tiht-iron doors were open, and a slender, brown-haired, tunic-clad figure waited to the left of them – for us, I suspected

"Risa, Azriel," she said softly, as I approached "Please followsoftly on thethat every step was accoolden sparks The Brindle’s interior tended to be soh the foyer’s brickwork had been painted a rich gold that added a warmth that the entrance otherwise lacked We were led to the end of the hall and down some stairs, then into a wide hall that was lined with darkly stained tiht Sconces flickered on as we approached, then went dark once we’d passed, fueled by ht at the end of this hall, and went down a second set of stairs After traversing another halle reached the end and two large, intricately carved wooden doors The slender witch opened one of these, ushered us through, then closed it The rooabled wooden roof and walls lined with tapestries But it was the large protection circle that caughtwithin it Ilianna, Mirri, Kiandra, and Ilianna’s ic eddied around us – tides of power that itched atany closer in case my presence disturbed it in sohed and glancedthe cord?" I said

"Not yet" Ilianna stepped carefully from the circle, then walked toward me Her face was pale, strained "Neither Mo like this before now, but I guess that’s natural, given the source They’re relying on e in their attempts to unpick the various layers"

"Well, you did reroute thestones my father left at Mom’s"

And I had to wonder if that had been deliberate After it, those stones were all that was stopping the Raziq froht stalled, and I blinked as exciteed Maybe the daht in front of ic of the stones was easy compared to this," Ilianna said "This collar is interlaced and co to have the time to dismantle it"

Tears briefly shone in her eyes, but were rapidly blinked away No time for tears Not yet

I looked at Mirri Her expression was stoic, but fear lurked in the depth of her eyes "You will Have faith"

"Faith is solanced at Azriel "Sorry, but it’s hard to keep believing when your bosses are doing squat to help the situation as far as I can see"